Tag Archives: tragedy

He thought he could white-knuckle his way through to normalcy. He thought he could do it without the meds. He couldn’t decide which was worse – life on the meds or life off of them. He concluded it was just life he couldn’t bear. The simple act of breathing had become too much to bear.

Amy Hatvany’s fourth novel is an engaging and provocative look at mental illness. Eden is a 10-year-old girl whose artist father leaves her and her mother behind in Seattle after he’s attempted suicide and refused to take the medications needed to “silence the rumblings in his head.” The adult Eden achieves her dream of becoming a successful chef in the city, but realizes that she needs to find her father before it’s too late.

I’m not usually a fan of stories that are told in non-chronological order – they tend to be too clever by half – but here the author makes it work, and work well. In fact, some of her time-shifts seem to have been crafted for a screenplay version of the story. Hatvany has a gift for dialogue, although in Outside the Lines she’s created a character in Jack (Eden’s charitable boyfriend) who’s just too good to be true.

“Is he perfect all the time?” Georgia asked when I went on dreamingly about some wonderful thing Jack had said or done. “I might have to hurl if he is.”

While the family novel’s set in The Emerald City, there are side trips to San Francisco and Portland which provide changes of scenery. This is a morality play in which Eden (as in the Garden of…) must save her long-lost dad before she can save herself and the world she lives in.

Well recommended.

Joseph Arellano

A review copy was provided by the publisher.

“Hatvany’s novel explores the tragedy of a mind gone awry, a tangled bond of father and daughter, and the way hope and love sustain us.” Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You

“I finally felt like I was contributing to something that made a difference in the world.”

While an author can develop some great sentences and paragraphs in a novel, using language that is either stunningly creative or even gorgeous, it doesn’t mean much if the tale being told does not advance. In The Grief of Others, a promising and potentially engaging story is overwhelmed by obtuse storytelling. Because of this, I found the novel to be far more frustrating than pleasing.

The story revolves around Ricky Ryrie, wife and mother of two, who loses a third child (a male) 57 hours after his birth. The child was diagnosed with Anencephaly four months prior to its birth, a fact that Ricky kept from her husband John. Since Ricky once had an affair with a work colleague, this raises serious trust issues in the marriage; a marriage which may not survive the tragedy. Ricky would not let John hold or touch the baby while it was alive, and so he goes on to remind her, “This was my child. Too.”

But it’s not just Ricky’s story that’s covered here… We also witness John’s, and those of the children – 13-year-old Paul and 11-year-old Biscuit – and of Jess, John’s daughter by another woman. And then there’s Gordie, a young man who attaches himself to the Ryries in much the same manner as the troubled young man Kiernan does with the Lathams in Anna Quindlen’s novel Every Last One.

Unfortunately, Cohen’s book does not seem to handle the issue of overwhelming, shattering grief as effectively as Quindlen’s story; nor does it tackle the issues of marital trust and fidelity quite as well as Commuters, the near brilliant debut novel by Emily Gray Tedrowe. There may simply be too many characters on the stage here, another one of whom is Will, Gordie’s very sick father. Cohen seems to have spread herself, and her story, a bit too thin. Some of the writing is admirable as when John notices that the instant tragedy seems to foster “in everyone around him a sudden, alarming presumption of intimacy.” (It can be a tad frightening when strangers and coworkers are seemingly a bit too kind and understanding.)

Of all the characters, Ricky’s daughter Biscuit is the one that appears to be the most true-to-life, as if she had been created by Lesley Kagen (Whistling in the Dark, Good Graces); however, the key problem is that the young children Paul and Biscuit are saddled with the thoughts of adults, thoughts that simply don’t seem credible.

Biscuit thinks that, “Her parents seemed like the books you could see (in a bookcase): they smiled and spoke and dressed and made supper and went off to work and all the other things they were supposed to do, but something, a crucial volume, had slipped down in back and couldn’t be reached.”

Paul, meanwhile, worries that, “(His parents) couldn’t seem to detect anything wrong with each other, never mind that his mother had been silent for most of the past year, or that his father, for all his apparent optimism, was beginning to show fissures.” How many 13-year-olds would know the meaning of the word fissures, let alone think in such terms?

An intriguing twist – a pregnant Jess lands on the family’s doorstep almost one year after the family’s tragedy of losing the baby – tends to get lost after all this. This is an almost 400 page novel that feels, in the reading, to be almost twice that long. At one point, Ricky thinks about her “unbearable helplessness,” and her loneliness in carrying to term a defective child: “The thought exhausted her.”

Take a break from your own life and get to know the Armstrong family of Ohio. They are the central figures in David Baldacci’s poignant novel, One Summer. This reviewer was captivated by the depth of character development, both male and female, that Baldacci brought to his tale of loss and redemption. The added bonus was listening to the audio version narrated by two highly-skilled readers, Don McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy. Together they provide a wide range of voices for the characters. This blend brought the story to life in a way that would be hard to match with a print version of the book.

The story opens as Jack Armstrong, all around good guy and former military man, awaits his slow death from a rare and always-fatal disease while Christmas approaches. Jack’s lovely wife Lizzie and three children are struggling to cope with the inevitable loss they face. Each has their own way of doing so and 15-year-old daughter Michelle (Mickie) has alienated herself from everyone by rebelling against the entire matter with anger. Deep down inside Lizzie knows she will have to go on without Jack very soon; however, she fantasizes about the entire family revisiting her childhood home in South Carolina during the following summer.

Baldacci takes this premise and injects his own deeply felt take on loss by setting up a twist whereby Lizzie dies in a car crash and Jack miraculously survives. Rather than playing on the sympathy of the characters he has created, Baldacci brings out the good and the weaknesses of everyone involved. This is a tale that demands spirited action and dashing drama. Baldacci delivers all this and more. It is perfectly fine with this reviewer that the gritty reality of life coexists with a fairytale quality series of plot twists.

There’s no mystery here, love conquers all. Highly recommended.

Ruta Arellano

An audiobook review copy was provided by the publisher. “In One Summer, (Baldacci) writes as beautifully and insightfully about the pathways of the human heart as he does about the corridors of power. …(a) hugely emotional and unforgettable novel.” Lisa Scottoline, author of Save Me.

Author Therese Fowler has written the 21st century version of Romeo and Juliet. Fowler portrays the complexities of the modern-day teenage romance highlighted by cell phones, computers, and on-line social networking. She does an excellent job demonstrating the dangers of our advanced technologies when it comes to teenagers and the sharing of personal information in her upcoming novel, Exposure.

The star-crossed lovers, Anthony Winter and Amelia Wilkes have everything in common, excluding the financial status of their families. Their shared passion for theatre brings them together in their affluent high school’s production of As You Like It, which in verse summarizes their own love story:

No sooner looked but they loved

Their commitment to one another begins with a secret romance shielded from Amelia’s arrogant father, Harlan, who shelters Amelia with the primary goal of ensuring that she ends up with the ideal partner who will provide her with a rich life, not the poor unfortunate one he had as a child. He hopes for Amelia to pursue a business degree at Duke University and to find a shadow of him, a man with money and power who will provide her with the wealth that he finds essential for happiness.

Anthony, the talented and non-conformist son of a single mother was abandoned by his father before he was born. He is fortunate to attend Ravenswood, the esteemed private school where he meets Amelia, only because his mother, Kim, has been hired to teach Art and French. Kim, a supportive mom doing the best she can to raise Anthony with the limited resources she has, supports the relationship between her son and Amelia, knowing all too well the power of love and romance.

As Amelia and Anthony spend their time contemplating their plan for the future they become closer and, as a result, intimate. Following graduation Amelia will reveal both their relationship and plans to attend New York University for drama while they both pursue careers on Broadway. Months away from graduation their relationship becomes physical and, being the artists that they are, commemorate their relationship through writings, texts, e-mails, and photos. This intensifies their relationship, which is presumed to be private and innocent (Anthony is 18 and Amelia 17), while they are away from one another…

One unfortunate day Amelia’s father hacks into her computer and finds explicit photos of Anthony. Outraged and presuming that his innocent, naive daughter has been the victim of a heinous crime, he instinctually calls the police and begins an investigation that results in a series of events altering the lives of everyone involved.

Fowler expresses the true nature and concerns of sexting, and the repercussions of the open access that our children have to the Internet and other related avenues for sharing information.

Yes, Exposure may also take you back to relive the story of your first love… or the one that got away.

Well recommended.

Kelly Monson

A review copy was provided by the publisher. Exposure will be released on May 3, 2011.

For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices. To hold on… To let go… To forget… To forgive… Which road will you take?

In a compelling novel of love, loss, hope and understanding, author Kristin Hannah redefines the pluses and minuses – challenges, tenderness and empowerment – of motherhood.

Jude Farrady has everything. She lives the ideal life; a loving husband, a custom-built home, friends that support and love her, and twins that have an extraordinarily close relationship. Her life revolves around her twins, ensuring that they have everything they need to be happy and successful.

Lexi Baill has nothing. The orphan of a drug addict, she has grown up living in multiple foster homes, without a family, abandoned and alone. With a heart of gold she selflessly carries hope that someday things will turn out differently.

When Lexi befriends Jude’s daughter Mia on their first day of high school, their lives are forever changed. Lexi brings out the best in the shy sister of the most popular boy in town. The bond between the twins and Lexi encourages the Farraday’s to treat Lexi like one of their own. Finally finding a permanent home with the aunt she never knew she had combined with the love she is shown from the Farraday’s, Lexi feels she has finally found the life she has always dreamed of.

Yet tragedy finds a way into the lives of even those with the most fortunate of circumstances. The resulting loss forces everyone to reevaluate the future of their relationships and life beyond the boundaries of the predictable.

Author Hannah presents an endearing and engaging story that uncovers a path of unpredictable events… Events that will leave you laughing, crying, wishing and hoping but above all feeling fully appreciative of the love, devotion and trials that come with the territory of being a mother.

Well recommended.

Kelly Monson

A review copy was received from the publisher. Night Road was released on March 22, 2011. “Longtime fans will love this rich, multilayered reading experience, and it’s an easy recommendation for book clubs.” Library Journal

In Every Last One, author Anna Quindlen gives us a monumental – yet quietly reserved – look at the life of a typical American family, before and after the family is rocked by an unimaginable tragedy. This is the story of Mary Beth Latham, a basically stay-at-home mom who operates a landscaping business; her ophthalmologist husband, Glen; daughter Ruby; and her fraternal twin sons, Max and Alex. Although we observe their lives through Mary Beth’s eyes, we come to know Ruby the best. She’s a senior in high school who is about to leave the nest for a yet-to-be determined college.

Mary Beth at one point ponders whether it is a woman’s role to persevere after everyone she loves has left her. But she thinks about this at a time when everyone she loves remains close to her. This is when she’s the woman who worries about the smallest of concerns, when her life goes on as normal. But normal is not lasting…

Daughter Ruby has known her friend Kiernan since childhood, and he becomes obsessed with her and all of the Lathams. Kiernan comes to become less of a boyfriend to Ruby than a stalker, and someone who uses any excuse to keep company with the Latham family. Ruby realizes that she’s going to have to reject Kiernan soon – and before she departs for her future life.

When tragedy strikes Mary Beth must become a survivor. Everyone around her fails at offering comfort; instead, they impose their expectations on her as to how they believe she should act. The people she worked so hard to please, to impress, to be close to all let her down.

Eventually Mary Beth comes to see – as we all must – that she cannot live her life in a manner that pleases others. She simply must continue, even if the reasons for doing so are not clear.

“It’s all I know how to do. This is my life. I am trying.”

It is impossible to describe the nature of the calamity that Mary Beth experiences without betraying the story, and this summary does not disclose it. Suffice it to say that when it occurs the reader will think the narrative is over. In the hands of a less skilled writer it would be. But Quindlen is at her best in writing the tale of a woman who is strong when the world believes she has been stripped of her heart and her soul.

“The silence is as big as the sky…”

Author Quindlen teaches the reader that life is not predictable, that one must be prepared to start over at any time. It is, after all, the nature of every life. Life, for better or worse, every year, month, day, and each and every minute. It is all to be treasured, and readers may come to justifiably treasure this impressive work from the subtly gifted mind and pen of Anna Quindlen.

Highly recommended.

Joseph Arellano

A review copy was provided by the publisher. Every Last One will be released in trade paperback form on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.

The Politician: An Insider’s Account of John Edwards’s Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down by Andrew Young

That long title you just read is the best part of this account. Trust me on this. You should only read this book if you love sleazy things. In fact, you should only read it if you’d jump into a 400 gallon vat of sleaze, if such a thing existed.

“…I had time to reflect on my experience with a most charismatic and deceptive politician and the factors that made me vulnerable to his spell.”

Sigh. Vulnerable to the spells and charms of John Edwards? Yes, that’s how tacky this true tale is. The author is John Edwards’ well-educated aide (we know he’s well educated because he tells us so several times throughout the account), who assisted him at almost every step of his public and private deceptions. This Andrew Young – a law school graduate and not the civil rights leader – told the media that he was the father of the child that Edwards had with his mistress. Young then suffered mightily having to live with Edwards’ mistress in a $20,000 per month rental mega-mansion in Montecito – which is the Ritziest part of Santa Barbara County. Sad, isn’t it? Such virtually unimaginable suffering.

And how did Edwards acquire the funds to support the mistress and Young and his family? By telling heiress Bunny Mellon that they were using her millions to fund a poverty center based at the University of North Carolina. See what I mean about the sleaze?

What we do know is that the author told lies on his master’s behalf for months and years, and in order to believe the truthfulness of this account, you would have to believe that he’s telling “the truth and nothing but the truth” now. Uh, huh. Right.

“Barring a sudden surge of honesty, the only way we were going to get out of our commitment would be if Mrs. Edwards died.”

Nobody comes off well in this account, not Young, not Edwards – which is hardly a surprise – and certainly not Elizabeth Edwards. In fact, Young’s primary agenda here seems to be trashing her reputation. Elizabeth is portrayed not as a spurned and loyal woman who was admired by millions of Americans, stricken by disease, but as a… Well, I don’t need to say it.

I did appreciate one matter substantiated by Young, that Mr. Edwards sought to pattern himself after Robert Kennedy, but his act always seemed – to me – like a very bad actor’s version of RFK (left hand in jacket pocket, right hand stroking the air, combing his hair or fixing his tie). At one point, Edwards goes on a retreat and Young notices that every one of the books that our once self-anointed president-in-training took with him was either written by Robert Kennedy or was about RFK. But then Young gets some very basic things wrong. For example, at one point someone refers to Edwards as the Robert Redford of politics, and Young writes that the reference was to Redford as The Natural. Not at all, the reference was to Redford in the film The Candidate, about the photogenic candidate who gets elected to the U. S. Senate and then asks the question of his staff, “What do we do now?” The comment was likely meant to depict Edwards as an empty suit.

As the son of a preacher man, Young never gets around to identifying the message in this sad morality play. And it’s a play that has not finished its run yet (Is Edwards going to marry his mistress and the mother of his baby? Will he be charged with crimes?). But let’s be clear about this… This account by Andrew Young is not in any way equivalent to John Dean’s Blind Faith. Young is no hero. John Dean helped to rid the country of a cancer on the presidency. Young did his best, his very best, to put John Edwards in the White House.

Not recommended.

Review by Joseph Arellano. This book was purchased by the reviewer, unfortunately.